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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                    DBT ONLINE, INC. (NASDAQ: DBTO) ACQUIRES
                    THE INFORMATION CONNECTIVITY GROUP, INC.


                                                                Company contact:
                                                                     Tim Leonard
                                                         Vice President, Finance
                                                                  (800) 279-7710




         August 5, 1997 - DBT Online, Inc. (Nasdaq: DBTO) announced today that
it completed the acquisition of The Information Connectivity Group, Inc.
("ICON") of Norcross, Georgia.  ICON is a provider of database services to the
insurance industry.

         Hank Asher, President and CEO of DBT Online said, "We are excited
about this acquisition and the addition of Andy Perlmutter, ICON's President,
to our management team.  ICON has substantial experience in marketing database
services to the insurance industry."  Mr. Asher continued, "This acquisition
presents additional opportunities for us to offer the strength of our databases
to customers to battle insurance fraud."

         DBT Online, Inc. operates its business through Database Technologies,
Inc. ("DBT") and Patlex Corporation ("Patlex").  Patlex is engaged in the
exploitation and enforcement of two laser patents.  DBT is an on-line provider
of integrated database services and related reports primarily to law
enforcement and other governmental agencies, law firms, insurance companies and
licensed investigation companies.